Korea's history spans over 5000 years. Due to its strategic
geographical location, neighbouring China, Japan and Russia,
the peninsula has often been the field of battle of foreign
powers and as now inextricably enmeshed in the global political
climate.
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND NORTH KOREA?
Japan occupied Korea from 1910 until
the end of the Second World War whereupon the Russians
took
the surrender in the north and the Americans to the
south on the 38th parallel. This was meant to be a
temporary
border however due to mistrust between Russian and
America and the outbreak of the Cold War the line became
permanent.
Tension between the two halves led to the outbreak
of the Korean War, 1950-1953 (Fatherland Liberation
War)
which has left the country divided until the present
day.
The North is a country run on communist
principles but dominated by the country's 'Juche
Idea',
a philosophy aimed at developing self-reliance. With
the change in political direction of it's old comrades
Russia
and China, North Korea has become increasingly isolated
and is seen as one of the most difficult countries
to
get a tourist visa for. It was widely believed in the
outside world that strains caused by the food and economic
crisis would inevitably lead to the opening of
the country through reform or even implosion
or
war.
However
it
is apparent
that the DPRK is still maintaining it's steadfast attitude
and optimists are seeing this decade as a change
through
dialogue with the South and the outside world. |
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BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF KOREAN HISTORY
918-1392 Koryo - first dynasty to unify the Korean peninsula
1392-1910 Yi (Chosun) Dynasty
1910-1945 Occupation by Japan
1945 World War II ends - Korea divided on the 38th parallel
1945 Founding of Workers' Party of Korea
1948 Democratic People's Republic of Korea established in
the North, Republic of Korea in the South
1948 Kim Il Sung becomes president of DPRK and Syngman Rhee
of ROK
1950-53 Korean War
1994 Death of President Kim Il Sung
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